Electric switches



Sept 4, 1962 R. J. NATHE 3,052,763

ELECTRIC SWITCHES Filed April 6, 1959 l -L- 52M I :1 n [lin M IW nl l ll 60 60n |I/ y @$15 il .HIM

mir I 98 INVENTOR A7 YMoNa u' /Vnr//E /04 ATTORNEY United States Patent Otlice 3,052,763 Patented Sept. 4., 1962 3,052,763 ELECTRIC SWITCHES Raymond J. Nathe., Pieasantville, N.Y., assignor to (Marion Listener Corporation, Scarborough Park, Ossining, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 6, 1959, Ser. No. 804,291 2 Claims. (Cl. 200-8) The structure of the electric switch here to be set forth permits its construction substantially in any size, including miniaturization. One application of a switch embodying features of the invention, where such switch has been miniaturized, is by assembly in a temple of eyeglasses wherein are located the parts of a hearing aid so that such switch may control the circuits of such hearing aids. As hereinbefore indicated, the Iprinciple of the switch may be applied to many other sizes, and many other specific and general applications.

It is an object of the invention to provide a switching device of the type hereinbefore referred to, which device is capable of controlling one or more electric circuits, wherein the principle of the device makes it possible to reduce the dimensions of the device to very small size, as well as to produce the switch in almost any size. One particular application for use of the device has been shown in connection with the control of circuits of hearing aids located in the bows or temples of eyeglasses, but such devices are capable of other specific or general applications.

It is an object of the invention to provide a circuit controller' which, by reason of the construction of its circuitmaking elements, tends to move to a stable end position, and to remain in that position until positively moved out of that position, and yet does not interpose any too great resistance to its movement to any of the Various positions to which it is intended to be adjusted as the controller is actuated for controlling various circuits.

It is an object of the invention to provide a structure for a switching device in which certain or all of the contacts which may take part, together with a moving switching element, in controlling circuits, also serve to form a cage within which a rotating element for governing the switching element may rotate together with the switching element.

It is an object of the invention to provide a structure in which the contacts for moving a switching device may be housed and yet be permitted relatively free movement, lend themselves to miniaturization, and serve to rigidity the structure within which the moving parts are housed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a structure for a switch in which the moving parts rotate without the provision of relatively fixed bearings, but wherein the moving parts are loose to a limited degree.

It is an object of the invention to provide stationary contacts for a device of the nature specified wherein such contacts provide means to facilitate the assembly therewith of conductors of a circuit.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple housing for the rotating element of a switching device by constructing the housing to include certain contacts which are to be engaged by the rotating element.

It is an object of the invention to provide contacts for the purpose indicated wherein such contacts have the additional function of receiving the terminals of conductors of the circuits, and securing those terminals in iixed relation to the contacts, and connecting such contacts into the circuits.

It is an object of the invention to provide a switching device of the type indicated where the frame and the rotating elements of the device may be molded from nonconducting material.

lt is an object of the invention to provide a construction which permits assembly of the elements of such a switching device by very simple procedure, wherein the parts may be slipped into the assembly, and the assembly then is nished firmly to anchor the parts against separation.

Other objects of the invention will Ibe set forth hereinafter, or will be apparent from the description and the drawings, in which are illustrated embodiments exemplifying the invention.

The invention, however, is not intended to be restricted to any particular construction, or any particular arrangement of parts, or any particular application of any such construction or arrangement of parts, or any specific method of operation or use, or any of the various details thereof, even where specilically shown and described herein, as the same may be modified in various particulars, or may be applied in many varied relations, without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, of which the exemplifying embodiments, herein shown and described, are intended only to be illustrative, and only for the purpose of complying with the requirements of the statutes for disclosure of an operative embodiment, but not to show all the various forms and modifications in which the invention might be embodied.

On the drawings, in which the same reference characters refer to the same parts throughout, and in which is disclosed such practical constructions,

FIG. l is a detail elevational View, showing a switching device embodying certain features of the invention, the device being shown assembled in the bow or temple of a pair of eyeglasses, where such bow or temple may house the elements of a hearing aid device, and the switching device is connected into and controls one or more circuits of the hearing aid;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, to greatly enlarged scale, of the switching device shown in FIG. l, shown separated from the bow with which it may be assembled;

FIG. 3 is a detail cross-sectional view, substantially on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2, some of the elements -being shown in elevation, and other parts being broken away;

FIG. 4 is a detail cross-sectional View, substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, some of the elements being shown in elevation;

FIG. 5 is a detail perspective view of the rotating actuator for the operating parts of the switching device, the actuator being shown removed from the assembly;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, showing a modified structure of the actuator, some of the elements being shown in elevation;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic view, to smaller scale, illustrating circuitry possible with devices such as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view similar to FIG. 7, but illustrating other circuitry possible with devices such as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6.

On the drawings, there is shown a bow or temple 10 of a pair of eyeglasses such as now commonly designed to receive the components of a hearing aid. To control the circuits of such a hearing aid, it is desirable to provide some type of switch; for this purpose, a switch 12, having features of the invention, may be mounted at such position along the bow where desirable to be accessible for manipulation by the wearer of the hearing aid lfrom outside of the temple in a manner to be described.

Switch 12 may include a pair of plates 14 and 16. Both plates 14 and 16 preferably are made from plastic material which does not conduct electricity. Plate 14 may be larger than plate 16, in order to provide a face 17 to bear against the inner face of wall 18 of temple 10, where such plate is t0 be aixed to the temple. Plate 14 may have a pair of openings 20 for use in securing that plate, and thereby switch 12, to wall 18.

s For instance, a plastic solvent or similar means may be inserted through openings 20 when plate 14 is held against wall 18, and the two parts, if soluble by the same solvent, will become welded together. Likewlse, any suitable adhesive or other securing means may be 1nserted through openings 20 to secure plate 14 to wall 18. When so assembled, a manipulating part for the switch to be described may be accessible through an opening (not shown) in wall 18.

Plates 14 and 16 are held spaced apart by means of members 22 to be described further. Positioned between plates 14 and 16 and held within the confines of a cage 24 defined by plates 14 and 16 and members 22 is a rotor 26. The rotor may comprise a substantially cylindrical body 28; extending substantially diametrically through the body is a through passage 30. Extending laterally from body 28 may be a hub 32 at one face 34 and a lug 36 at the other face 38. For certain purposes, a pair of lugs 36 or a pair of hubs 32 may be provided. In the construction here to be described, the function of lug 36 is such that, in some instances, it may be omitted. Hub 32 may have a transverse slot 49 provided to open from its face 42. Body 2,8 (FIG. 3) may be retained between plates 14 and 16 so that hub 32 extends through an opening 44 in plate 14, and then through an opening (not shown) in wall 18. Opening 44 may be larger than hub 32 so that the hub may have limited movement in opening 44. Body 28, its hub 32 and lug 36 may `be made by molding from plastic, preferably a plastic which does not conduct electricity.

Another opening 46 in plate 16 may be of limited extent; in the case shown, opening 46 is semicircular. Into opening 46, lug 36 extends; edge 4S of opening 46 serves as a stop to limit movement of lug 36 in either direction, and thus to limit movement of body 28 in cage 24.

Bridging between plates 14 and 16, and spaced with relation to each other, are metallic tubular members 22. These tubular members are snugly tted into openings 50 and 52 formed for the purpose through plates 14 and 16, respectively. Preferably, members 22 are pressfitted into openings 50 in plate 14 before plate 16 is located with relation to plate 14. End 54 of members 42 may be formed as tines which are bent over (FIG. 3) to form a closed end 56. When the press-fitting of members 22 into openings 50 has been completed, closed ends 56 will be substantially flush with the inner face of wall 18, when assembled in temple Thus wall 18 serves to insulate such ends 56.

After plate 14 is thus assembled with members 22, body 28 and its parts are assembled so that hub 32 extends through its opening 44. Now plate 16 is assembled upon members 22 with the members 22 extending through openings 52 of plate 16. While members 22 are held against a die plate, plate 16 is pressed to move along members 22 until it has assumed the position (FIG. 3) where members 22 extend outwardly beyond face 5S, and lug 36 is within opening 46. The movement of plate 16 on members 22 may be stopped before body 28 is seized by the inner faces 60 and 62 of plates 14 and 16, respectively, thus permitting body 28 and its parts free rotational movement, but without binding lateral restriction. Ends 64 of members 22 are left open, as shown, and provide means for reception of the terminals 66 of conductors 68, which may be secured in bores 7) of members 22 by soldering or other suitable means.

Members 22 are spaced at equal arcuate distances along a circle whose center is common with the approximate center of the axis of rotation of lbody 28. Thus, the distances of members 22 along their respective radii of this circle are equal. For certain purposes to be described, the number of members so disposed is an even number. Members 22, so assembled with plates 14 and 16, serve to rigidify cage 24, in addition to the further l functions to be described in retaining body 23 and balls 72 in proper association, and as electrical contacts.

Before body 28 is assembled in the manner described, a pair of balls 72 are inserted into passage 36, with a spring 74 nested between the balls. Balls 72, in most cases, are metallic. In some cases, one of the balls may be of non-conducting material. Spring 74 (FIG. 3) is shown as a coiled spring. It may be metallic, or may be 0f any other material which is resilient, and provide the necessary stress. For instance, a bumper 76 (FIG. 6) of a resilient material, such as rubber or the like, which is non-conducting, may be disposed between the two balls.

Balls 72 and the spring, whether spring 74 or bumper 76, are compressed by a suitable implement so that body 28 carrying them may be inserted within cage 24 dened by mem-bers 22, and so that hub 32 nests in and extends through opening 44. Then plate 16 is assembled on members 22 in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by the procedure hereinbefore described.

When the compressing tool is removed as body 2S is assembled in the cage, the balls are released so that they come to rest bearing against and straddling a space 7S between a pair of adjacent members 22 (FIGS. 4 and 6). For some purposes, hub 32 may fit into opening 44 sufficiently so that it has the function of a bearing. The construction is such, however, that the action of balls 72 with the pressure of spring 74 will serve to hold the members properly located within cage 24. Likewise, members 24 may provide bounds upon which body 28 may roll as `balls 72 roll from position to position over members 22.

In the assembly thus produced, it is possible to rotate body 28 by engaging the blade of a knife or a nail file in slot 40, and turning the tool. Balls 72 will be caused to compress spring 74 or bumper 76, and ride up over tubular members 22, while continuously engaging the rounded surface of at least one of those members. After the balls have passed dead center, the spring action will force body 28 to move to the next position where balls 72 will come to rest in the space 78 between the next set of adjacent members 22. Balls 72 are of a diameter large enough so as not to pass through the space 73 between adjacent members 22. Where members 22 are disposed for the entire circumference of cage 24, and with members 22 supplied in an even number, when one ball 72 is positioned between a pair of members S0 and 82 (FIGS. 4 and 6), then the other ball will be disposed between the opposite members 84 and 86. The movement of a ball into a space 78 produces a detenting action. The actuation of rotor 26 causes the ball to cam out of space 78, over a member 22, and then into the next space 7S, as the spring urges the ball to cam the rotor to that position. It is possible to have an unequal number of members 22 so that a single ball will produce the detenting action while the other ball rests upon a member and thus does not then have a circuit-making function, or engages against some other surface.

Various possible circuit-controlling combinations are made possible by the structure here defined. Two possible arrangements are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. A switch of this nature (FIG. 7) may be used for paralleling contacts, and thus reducing the resistance of the switch. For instance, opposed members 8S and 90 may be connected to the same conductor 92. In the same manner, members 94 and 96 may be connected to the same conductor 98. Likewise, members and 102 may be connected to the same conductor 104.

Now when a ball 72 is in engagement with members 8S and 94, the other ball simultaneously will be in engagement with members 9G and 96. A circuit would thus be completed between common members 83 and 90, and common members 94 and 96. On rotation of body 28, to bring the balls into engagement with members 94, 96, 100, and 102, the circuit previously made is broken, and a new circuit is established between common members 94 and 96, and com-mon members 100 and 162.

On the other hand, where a non-conducting bumper 76 is assembled as a spring, then separate circuits may be established between members 88 and 94, and members 90 and 96, simultaneously, without aifecting each other. Likewise, on rotating body 28, a new circuit will lbe established between members 94 and 100, and a separate circuit between members 96 and 102.

Thus, if one of the balls is non-conducting, then, as shown in FIG. 8, all of the circuitry can be effected at one side by that one ball engaging first between members 88 and 94, then, on movement of body 28, between members 94 and 100, and the like.

Although the switch structure is shown with but two plates 14 and 16, it should be obvious that a series of plates may be held together by members 22, and consecutive rotors 26 are tied together through joined hubs 32, or by other suitable means, to provide tandem operated switches.

Many other changes could be eifected in the particular constructions, and in the methods of use and construction, and in specic details thereof, hereinbefore set forth, without substantially departing from the invention intended to be :defined herein, the specic description being merely of embodiments capable of illustrating certain principles of the invention.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. An electrical switching device, comprising a cage having a pair of spaced apart walls of non-conductive material, and a plurality of metallic members extending between the walls and providing means for xedly retaining the walls in their spaced apart relation, the members being positioned on different radii but each at the same distance along its radius from a common center and being equally spaced apart, the walls and the members defining an enclosure, one of the walls having an opening within the bounds of the enclosure, a body of non-conducting material having a hub, the hub being rof a dimension less than the dimensions of the opening, the hub extending through the opening and being rotatable in the opening but having no xed center of rotation with relation to the opening, the body being dimensioned so that the bounds of the enclosure do not engage or retain the body to any xed axis of rotation, the other Wall having an opening of limited arcuate extent, the body having a projection extending into and cooperating with the limited extent opening to determine the extent of rotational movement of the body in the enclosure, the body having a passage extending therethrough, the passage being 'of substantially uniform bore throughout its extent,

a pair of round conducting members within the passage, the round members being dimensioned to move freely through and out of the passage, and a resilient element within the passage between and engaging the round members, the element providing means normally tending -to ydrive the round members out of the passage and to move to positions extending from the passage and into engagement with the metallic members, the hub extending free of the cage and providing means for rotating the body to cause the round members to move from between one pair of metallic members to a next adjacent pair of metallic members.

f2. An electrical switching device, comprising a cage having a pair of spaced apart walls of non-conductive material, and a plurality of metallic members extending between the walls and providing means for xedly retaining the walls in their spaced apart relation, the members bein 7 positioned on different radii but each at the same distance along its radius from a common 'center and being equally spaced apart, the walls and the members delining an enclosure, at least one of the walls having an opening within the bounds of the enclos-ure, a Ibody of non-conducting material having a hub, the hub being of a dimension less than the dimensions of the opening, the hub extending through the opening and being rotatable in the opening but having no fixed center of rotation with relation to the opening, the body being dimensioned so that the bounds of the enclosure do not engage or retain the body to any iixed axis of rotation, the body having a passage extending therethrough, the passage being of substantially uniform bore throughout its extent, a pair of round `conducting members within the passage, the round members being dimensioned to move freely through and out of the passage, and a block of resilient rubber tted within the passage between and engaging the round members to insulate the round members from each other and to drive the round members to positions extending from the passage and into engagement with the metallic members, the hub extending free of the cage and providing means for rotating the body to cause the round members to move from between one pair of metallic members to a next adjacent pair of metallic members.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,412,002 Hendricks Apr. 4, 1922 2,201,881 Bryant May 21, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 429,651 Italy Feb. 2, 1948 744,486 Great Britain Feb. 8, 1956 

